Mayor Williams Hosts Grand Opening of Youth Shoe Shining Business in City Hall

Posted on 08/14/2014 12:48 pm

Today, Mayor Dennis P. Williams welcomed the Police Athletic League of Wilmington’s (PALW) Shoe Shine Brigade, as they bring their shoe shining business in the Louis L. Redding City/ County Building. The Shoe Shine Brigade, is a youth entrepreneurial endeavor, designed to provide a group of 10 to 15 year old youth with an entrepreneurial and mentorship experience. This initiative was created by the PAL of Wilmington, the First District Neighborhood Planning Council and the Northwest Civic Association.

Throughout the summer, members of the Shoe Shine Brigade worked at different locations around the city. Now, the Shoe Shine Brigade will be open in the Louis L. Redding City/County Building. A shoe shine costs $5.00, where $3.00 of the fee is paid to the youth for his services, $1.00 of the fee goes into a personal savings account and $1.00 is reinvested in the Brigade for supplies.

“The Shoe Shine Brigade is an example of how a program can positively impact the youth and the community that supports it,” said Mayor Williams. “When recreational organizations, community and civic associations, and government agencies work together we can change the lives of our young people. This program is successfully inspiring and motivating these young men, and what all of us should be striving towards.”

The Shoe Shine Brigade looks to inspire and support young men from low-income communities to stay in school, to take advantage of business opportunities that surround them and to prepare for successful academic and vocational futures. As a youth entrepreneurship program, the young men receive training and mentorship, as well as hands-on experience in interacting with customers and the responsibilities of running their own business. In addition, the program teaches business management, finance, sales and leadership skills.